The Trimmer Education Foundation's mission as a non-profit, charitable organization is to generate funds in order to award scholarships and grants in support of construction education and workforce development initiatives in colleges and universities and ABC chapters nationwide.
Approximately 45 percent of the funds raised at the Trimmer Auction go toward providing scholarships for students enrolled in two- or four-year construction-degree programs who are ABC student chapter members. Employees of ABC member firms and members of their families are also eligible for these scholarships.
Trimmer funds have also been used in times of crisis to assist ABC chapters and chapter staff members in their recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and other disasters. Funds from the Trimmer Education Foundation are also used to support the National Craft Championships competition, the Student Chapter Construction Management Competition and ABC's "Day on the Hill" Fellowship, where members of student chapters compete to win a trip to Washington, D.C. to participate in ABC's Legislative Conference.
The construction industry today is limited only by the shortage of qualified workers. Contributions to the Trimmer Education Foundation support bold and innovative initiatives and projects that will attract outstanding young men and women to the industry - for their training to be skilled professionals and to provide them with a career path in merit shop construction.
Every year at the ABC National Convention, the Trimmer Education Foundation conducts a charity auction to raise money to support ABC's merit shop education and training efforts.
Those who donate $1,000 or more to the Trimmer Fellows program are honored with a special plaque acknowledging their contribution as well as recognition at national events.